Beach Lifeguard (Extra-help) Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc beaches, and Cachuma Lake Pool

Full Job Description

Salary: $22.00 - $25.00 Hourly
Salary depends on experience/qualifications

THE POSITIONLooking for an exciting and rewarding summer job?

The County of Santa Barbara’s Community Services Department is accepting applications to hire seasonal Lifeguards to perform varied lifesaving and accident prevention services at Beaches located in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, and at Cachuma Lake public swimming pool (as needed by the department).

Beaches and Pools are open from Memorial Day Weekend, May 23, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026. Work hours are flexible and full-time work is available (40 hours per week).

If hired in as a Lifeguard, you can expect to begin work as early as April to ensure you have sufficient time to be onboarded and trained.

Reminder: Please make sure you select on your application, which location(s) you are willing to accept employment.

• Santa Barbara (Goleta Beach, Arroyo Burro Beach-Hendry’s Beach, and Cachuma Lake Pool)
• Lompoc (Jalama Beach)

NOTE: These are Civil Service Rule (CSR) 905 Extra Help Appointments.

An extra help appointment is defined as an appointment made to a non-regular, non-permanent position established on a temporary basis to meet peak loads, unusual work situations, seasonal and recurrent work, intermittent assignments, or emergencies.

The IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Dependable/Responsible
• Trustworthy
• Flexible
• Excellent customer service and communications skills
• Experience as a pool lifeguard

Requirements

Apply appropriate rescue, lifesaving and first aid techniques.Identify and utilize basic communications systems including cellular phones, two-way radios, hand signals, whistles, megaphones and signage.Understand the various types of surf conditions and hazards associated with each beach.Show proficiency in the deployment and use of swim fins in surf.Show proficiency in the use of paddleboard entry and rescue techniques.Show proficiency in search and recovery methods for submerged victim rescue.Utilize different methods of lifting and removing a victim from the water.Understand risks and responsibilities associated with beach response vehicles and show operating proficiency.Understand how to safely approach various types of ocean apparatus including boats, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, surfboards, kitesurfers, and windsurfers.

Explains rules and regulations to patrons, ensuring compliance with municipal codes, rules, and policies. Maintains beach and pool safety and facility cleanliness by enforcing the County laws.

Picks up trash and debris to maintain beach or pool area in clean, healthy and/or safe manner.Maintains lifeguard equipment to include inspection of lifesaving equipment and apparatus.May assist with Swim Lessons, Junior Lifeguards or other programming; occasionally work directly with children and program participants, create lesson plans, assist with activities, and demonstrate rescue or competition techniques.

Perform other duties as directed or assigned. Qualifications You must be at least 16 years of age and possess the ability to swim at the time of application.

Additional Qualifications: For specific positions, possession and maintenance of a valid California Driver’s License and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs may be required.

Additional Information

SELECTION PROCESS:
If you have performed a 1,000-meter tryout in the last twelve months, have worked as an Open Water Lifeguard in the last twelve months, or possess valid certifications see TRYOUT AND CERTIFICATION EQUIVALENCY INFORMATION below.

Application Review. Review applications to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

• Age 16-17: Applicants that meet these standards will receive an email notification of next steps.
• Age 18 and older: Applicants that meet the employment standards will receive the Community Services Background Questionnaire.
  

Community Services Background Questionnaire: All candidates that are 18 years or older are required to complete a questionnaire. An email will be sent with detailed information and a deadline. If you complete the questionnaire and successfully pass, you will be invited to the next step.

Beach Lifeguard Tryouts and Interviews: All applicants that qualify will receive an email to confirm you have been invited to the tryout and interview. The 1,000-meter open water swim must be completed in under 20 minutes. Candidates who successfully pass the 1,000-meter open water swim will be invited to an interview following the tryout.

If you pass the swim and interview, you will be contacted regarding a Conditional Job offer, and reference checks will be completed. Part of the conditional job offer includes completing required training for the position.

TRYOUT AND CERTIFICATION EQUIVALENCY INFORMATION:

Tryouts – A candidate can provide proof of a recent 1,000-meter open water swim to satisfy the tryout requirement.

The test must be administered by a United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) Certified Agency and tryouts must have taken place within twelve months prior to the application closing date.

Verification must be included in the candidate’s application on agency letterhead and should include the candidate’s name, swim time, the date of the tryout, an agency phone number, and the name and signature of the test administrator.

County administered tryouts will be offered on Saturday, March 7, 2026 and Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 9:00am, located at Arroyo Burro Beach County Park (Hendry’s Beach).

You must make an appointment and may bring goggles and a wetsuit.

Trainings & Certifications– A candidate can provide proof of required certifications to satisfy training requirements.

Certifications must be valid through October 1, 2026, and must be included as an attachment in the candidate’s application.

Certifications may be obtained through any qualified training provider, subject to verification and approval.

Candidates without current, approved certifications may attend the training program offered by the County to obtain the required certifications for the position.

This includes:USLA Open Water Lifesaving Training (April 11, 12 and May 16, 17)

American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification (April 25, 26)

First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22) or greater (May 2, 3)

American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or equivalent (TBD)

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing: This position may be subject to State Health Officer Orders (SHOOs) or County policy regarding vaccine verification and/or testing. Please contact the hiring department for more information.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Statement of Commitment: The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance.

The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates.

The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 4:59pm PST, postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

For more information contact: Collin Graham, Talent Acquisition Analyst at cgraham@countyofsb.org, or Erik Pederson, Aquatics Supervisor at epederson@countyofsb.org.